Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by martyb on Thursday August 17 2017, @11:09AM   Printer-friendly
from the I-Am-Sam dept.

Iceland is close to eliminating Down syndrome births due to widespread prenatal screening tests and nearly 100% of women choosing an abortion in the case of a positive test for Down syndrome:

With the rise of prenatal screening tests across Europe and the United States, the number of babies born with Down syndrome has significantly decreased, but few countries have come as close to eradicating Down syndrome births as Iceland.

Since prenatal screening tests were introduced in Iceland in the early 2000s, the vast majority of women -- close to 100 percent -- who received a positive test for Down syndrome terminated their pregnancy.

While the tests are optional, the government states that all expectant mothers must be informed about availability of screening tests, which reveal the likelihood of a child being born with Down syndrome. Around 80 to 85 percent of pregnant women choose to take the prenatal screening test, according to Landspitali University Hospital in Reykjavik.

[...] Other countries aren't lagging too far behind in Down syndrome termination rates. According to the most recent data available, the United States has an estimated termination rate for Down syndrome [open, DOI: 10.1002/pd.2910] [DX] of 67 percent (1995-2011); in France it's 77 percent (2015); and Denmark, 98 percent (2015). The law in Iceland permits abortion after 16 weeks if the fetus has a deformity -- and Down syndrome is included in this category.

The Prenatal Diagnosis link in the summary was replaced with a working version.

National Review has a counterpoint opinion piece about the CBSN article. Snopes has a page debunking inaccurate headlines about the article.


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by AssCork on Thursday August 17 2017, @12:42PM (2 children)

    by AssCork (6255) on Thursday August 17 2017, @12:42PM (#555260) Journal

    Finally! If this doesn't swing the pro-life crowd as the millennials take it over, what will?

    "Want kids?
    Don't want a burdened, non-productive member of the human race that needs constant in-home care for the duration of it's natural life?
    Do what your parents couldn't!
    Get your prenatal screening test done today!"

    --
    Just popped-out of a tight spot. Came out mostly clean, too.
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Moderation   +2  
       Insightful=1, Funny=1, Total=2
    Extra 'Insightful' Modifier   0  

    Total Score:   3  
  • (Score: 2) by EvilSS on Thursday August 17 2017, @02:33PM

    by EvilSS (1456) Subscriber Badge on Thursday August 17 2017, @02:33PM (#555327)
    Sounds like a poster you would see in some background shot on Man in the High Castle.
  • (Score: 2) by Bot on Saturday August 26 2017, @07:38PM

    by Bot (3902) on Saturday August 26 2017, @07:38PM (#559550) Journal

    > Do what your parents couldn't!

    hehe

    --
    Account abandoned.